"Roots In Kashmir" is an initiative launched by us, the Kashmiri Pandit Youth, to reclaim our Roots that identify us. Even though we have been hounded out of our homes and hearths in the Kashmir valley, our "Roots" are very much anchored in the Vitasta Valley. This is an initiative to protest and raise the general awareness of public to a level where our "fight for our roots" is felt, heard and acted upon.
www.rootsinkashmir.org

Sunday, March 8, 2009

'Wuzmal'..terror strikes at Panjab University, Chandigarh

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS: A visitor walks past photographs depicting the plight of Kashmiri Pandits who had to flee from their homes due to ongoing militancy. Tribune photo: Kamal Kishore

Chandigarh, March 7People forced to live in the makeshift accommodation; an infant crying next to her murdered father; a father collecting the last remains of his young son; a religious place being destroyed or a bomb blast lighting up the background of the Dal Lake.

Seems horrifying, but these are some of the heartrending images of the Valley brought to the city by student members of Roots in Kashmir, an organisation of Kashmiri Pandits.

“We want to show the true face of terrorism and how it has displaced the Kashmiri Pandits and rendered them homeless in their own country. They have been forced to live in the inhumane conditions for no fault of their own,” points Rashnik Kher, one of the students who organised the screening of a documentary film titled ‘Wuzmal’ and a photo exhibition at Panjab University campus.

Talk about any social cause and the role of youth can never be underestimated. “The response we have received from the youngsters here has been very encouraging. There are many Kashmiri families residing here and most of them are well settled, but still there is an urge among them to go back to their original home. Our aim is to just stimulate that urge and this is where the youth can play a huge role,” says another member of the group, Pooja Shali.

“We had played a decisive role in Priyadarshini Matoo case by stimulating the public opinion which eventually forced the reversal of the judgement,” she adds proudly.

“Wuzmal is a Kashmiri word for lightening which depicts the travails of more than 50,000 Kashmiri Pandits who have been forced to stay in refugee camps in Jammu and Delhi. They have lost their land, money and all the resources and are forced to live in the most miserable circumstances,” adds Sugandhi Thusoo, Chandigarh coordinator of the organisation.

Ask them for the solution and they prompt, “We want the status of internally displaced people be given to us and the government should make efforts to create an environment so that people can go back to their homes in the Valley.”

Link - http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090308/cth1.htm#8-

Documentary portrays migrant Kashmiri Hindus’ ordeal

Indo-Asian News Service

Chandigarh, March 7: A documentary portraying the ordeal of displaced Kashmiri Hindus was screened here Saturday evening, followed by the inauguration of a photo exhibition highlighting the manner in which hundreds and thousands of migrants are living far away from their homeland.

The event was organised by Roots in Kashmir (RIK) - a Kashmiri Pandit organisation - at the Panjab University (PU) campus.

The 45-minute documentary “Wuzmal (Lightning)” is a compilation of footage from various films on Kashmiri Pandits.

“More than 500,00 Kashmiri Pandits are staying in refugee camps in Jammu and Delhi. They have lost their land and all the resources and are forced to live in miserable circumstances,” Sugandhi Thusoo, Chandigarh coordinator of the RIK told IANS.

According to the organisers, the event was held to garner public support for the return of the migrant Hindus to Kashmir.

“There are many Kashmiri families residing here and most of them are well settled. But still, there is an urge among them to go back to their original home and our aim is to stimulate that urge,” said Thusoo, a mechanical engineering student at PU.

The photo exhibition depicted dilapidated temples in Kashmir and life in migrant camps.

“We are focusing on terrorism across the globe. In the light of last year’s terror attacks on Mumbai and the recent attack on Sri Lankan players in Lahore, it would be injudicious to talk only about Kashmir,” said Bhawick Jalali, another RIK member.